Diplomatic tensions escalate as President Donald Trump casts doubt on Ukraine’s democracy, criticizing its ongoing wartime ban on national elections.

European Union leaders are gathering this week at the end of political year dominated by U.S. President Donald Trump.

KYIV, Ukraine -- KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — President Donald Trump on Sunday claimed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “hasn’t read” a U.S-authored peace proposal aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war.

President Donald Trump asked when Ukraine would have democratic elections at a press availability on Wednesday. REPORTER: And you said in an interview yesterday that you think it's time for Zelensky to start accepting things.

The comments from Trump's oldest son are a sign of growing frustration over the failure of the Ukraine peace efforts to end the war

Following President Donald Trump’s claim that Ukraine is “losing” the war against Russia’s ongoing invasion and that Russia now has the “upper hand”, multiple officials told CNN there are no new US or European assessments suggesting there have been significant changes on the battlefield and they don’t see any indications Moscow is likely to win the conflict quickly.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, senior Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz meet with U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR),